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Jalapeno Mac N’ Cheese chips, anyone? Or wasabi ginger chips?

Frito-Lay announce winners of their potato chip contests across the world including Canada and the U.S.

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America is saying no to cappuccino flavored potato chips, but yes to 'Wasabi Ginger.' ''Wasabi Ginger' has won this year's Frito-Lay contest that gives people a chance to create a new flavor. Bags of the four finalist flavors hit store shelves in lat(TheStreet)

Lay’s Canada says Litman will take home $50,000 plus one per cent of future sales of Jalapeno Mac N’ Cheese on Lay’s Wavy.

The variety of foods on the same plate at summer barbecues was Litman’s inspiration.

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He says his favourite combination is when potato chips end up next to macaroni salad, adding some jalapeno to give it a kick.

Randall Litman winner of the Jalapeno Mac N' Cheese Lays chips that became Canadians' preferred flavour in a potato chip contest. Litman will take home $50,000 plus one per cent of future sales of Jalapeno Mac N' Cheese. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The four finalists of the second annual "Do Us a Flavor" potato-chip contest in the United States. Wasabi Ginger won that contest that gives people a chance to create a new flavor, beating out Cappuccino, Mango Salsa and Cheddar Bacon Mac N' Cheese. (Frito-Lay / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS File photo)

Earlier this year, the Lay’s Do Us a Flavour contest challenged Canadians to submit ideas for their favourite potato chip flavour.

In less than two months, the contest received more than a million submissions.

Meanwhile in America, Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese flavour didn’t fare well as Americans rejected it along with cappuccino-flavoured chips.

Frito-Lay says “Wasabi Ginger” won its contest, beating out the coffee-flavoured chips and the two other finalists — “Mango Salsa” and “Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese.” Parent company PepsiCo Inc. says about 1 million total votes were cast online for the “Do Us A Flavor” promotion, a sales driver it has launched in more than a dozen countries.

In the U.S., bags of the four finalist flavours hit shelves in late July and people were able to vote on Facebook and Twitter for their favourites through this past weekend. It was the second year for the U.S. contest, which is designed to send customers to stores in search of the flavours. Last year’s winner, Cheesy Garlic Bread, is still on shelves.

The winner, Meneko Spigner McBeth, a registered nurse from Deptford, New Jersey, will get $1 million or a portion of a year in sales, whichever figure is larger.

Ram Krishnan, Frito-Lay’s chief marketing officer, said this year’s winner is evidence Americans want more ethnic flavours, even though the top four Lay’s flavours remain Original, Barbecue, Cheddar & Sour Cream and Sour Cream & Onion. He said he couldn’t have imagined Lay’s selling a Wasabi Ginger flavour when he joined the company eight years ago.

“We’re kind of getting into a new flavour territory,” Krishnan said. “When I went to school, Mexican food was exotic.”

As for the cappuccino flavour — which was described as “NASTY” and “gross” in some comments on Lay’s Facebook page — Krishnan defended its performance, although he wouldn’t say how many votes it got.

“The fact that it made it out of our selection process to make it to the final four is no small feat,” he said.

The contest began in the United Kingdom, where Frito-Lay sells chips under the Walkers brand. Since then, it was launched in 14 countries before coming to the U.S. last year. Winning flavours in other countries include “Pizza” in Saudi Arabia, “Shrimp” in Egypt, “Sunday Roast” in New Zealand, “Pickled Cucumber” in Serbia and “Aline’s Caesar Salad” in Australia.

Given its success, Krishnan said the company is looking to launch the contest in other countries as well.

Krishnan wouldn’t specify how much of a sales lift the contest provides. But in the latest quarter that ended Sept. 6, PepsiCo, based in Purchase, N.Y., said revenue for its Frito-Lay North America division rose 3 per cent, reflecting a 2 per cent gain in volume and 1 per cent gain from higher prices.

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